Quiet Please

Natural ways to silence the ringing, roaring, and hissing of tinnitus

Millions of Americans suffer from tinnitus, a condition more descriptively known as “ringing in the ears.” People with severe tinnitus may have trouble hearing, working, or even sleeping. Causes include exposure to loud noises or certain medications, particularly Valium-type drugs (benzodiazepines) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories such as aspirin and ibuprofen. Tinnitus may also be a symptom of other health issues, such as allergies, high or low blood pressure, tumors, and problems in the heart, blood vessels, jaw, or neck.

Treating Tinnitus Naturally
The easiest way to treat tinnitus is to identify and eliminate the cause. However, if the ringing is due to prolonged exposure to loud noises or music, scuba diving, or other irritants that damage the eardrum, it can be difficult. Some studies have shown that supplementing with magnesium may help in these cases (150–250 mg three times daily). Other natural medicines of note include:

Zinc. Supplementation with zinc (20–30 mg per day) can relieve or eliminate tinnitus in those with zinc deficiency— a common occurrence in many cases of tinnitus.

Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE). The results from double-blind studies using GBE to treat tinnitus are contradictory. People with recent-onset tinnitus are more likely to respond than those who have had tinnitus for at least three years. The recommended dosage of GBE for tinnitus is 240–320 mg per day.

Vitamin B12. Nearly half of all tinnitus patients are deficient in this key vitamin. Many people with low B12 levels experience complete resolution of their tinnitus when given the methylcobalamin form of B12 (see sidebar on p. 26). Take 3,000–5,000 mcg daily for one month, then reduce your intake to 1,000 mcg daily as a maintenance dose.

The Promise of Melatonin
Two recent studies have demonstrated that taking 3 mg of melatonin per day at bedtime can significantly improve tinnitus as well as overall sleep quality. The latest research was conducted at The Ohio State University Eye and Ear Institute and published in the July 2011 issue of the Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology. In the study, 61 adults with chronic tinnitus were randomized to receive 3 mg of melatonin or a placebo nightly for 30 days, followed by a one-month washout period before switching to the other treatment. Results demonstrated convincingly that melatonin was associated with a significant decrease in tinnitus intensity and improved sleep quality in patients with chronic tinnitus. Melatonin was most effective in men with more severe and bilateral tinnitus and/or those with a history of noise exposure. Researchers believe that one of the ways melatonin helps tinnitus is by improving sleep quality, an interesting mechanism of action, since tinnitus is often a side effect of prescription sleeping pills.

Are You Deficient in Vitamin B12?
According to mercola.com the following symptoms are associated with a deficiency of B12:

Mental fogginess

Problems with your memory

Mood swings

Lack of motivation

Feelings of apathy

Fatigue and a lack of energy

Muscle weakness

Tingling in your extremities

SPOTLIGHT ON VITAMIN B12Tinnitus isn’t the only condition linked to low levels of this important nutrient

The richest sources of vitamin B12 are liver and kidney, followed by eggs, fish, cheese, and meat. However, the absorption of vitamin B12 requires the presence of a digestive factor in the stomach known as intrinsic factor.

Studies have shown that levels of vitamin B12 decline as we get older, with as many as 40 percent of people age 65 and older showing a deficiency. Thisis likely due to a reduced secretion of intrinsic factor as we age. A B12 deficiency can be devastating at any age, but in the elderly it can lead to significant impairment in mental capacity.

One study examined blood levels of vitamin B12 in 100 geriatric outpatients who were seen for various acute and chronic illnesses. It found that 11 of them had serum B12 levels at 148 pmol/L or below (the cut off for vitamin B12 deficiency); 30 had levels between 148 and 295 pmol/L; and 59 had levels above 296 pmol/L.

After the initial assessment, the patients who had acceptable blood levels of B12 were followed for up to three years. (Those who already had a deficiency were removed from the study and treated.) The average annual decline in B12 for patients who had higher initial levels was 18 pmol/L. And among those who had lower initial levels, the average annual decline was a much greater 28 pmol/L. These results indicate that testing for vitamin B12 deficiencies—and appropriate supplementation—are indicated for most seniors.

Methylcobalamin is the active and preferred form of B12; however, many supplements contain cyanocobalamin and hydroxocobalamin, which the body converts into methylcobalamin. Older people may have a reduced ability to make this conversion. While methylcobalamin led to increases in lifespan in animal models, cyanocobalamin had no effect. Methylcobalamin also produced better results in clinical trials, and should be considered the best form for obtaining specific benefits.

I recommend that anyone over the age of 65—or vegetarians at any age—take 1,000–3,000 mcg daily of methylcobalamin. This high dosage bypasses the need for intrinsic factor to aid absorption.

To determine whether a supplement contains methylcobalamin or cyanocobalamin, you’ll have to read the label carefully. High-quality products list the form of B12 in parenthesis on the ingredient panel. Many companies also include ‘methylcobalamin’ or ‘methyl B12’ on the front of the label.

Welcome

On the Dr Oz show

On the show I discussed the failure of conventional medicine to address the underlying issues in many health conditions offering little more than drugs as biochemical “band aids.”

December is Seasonal Affective Disorder Awareness Month

In seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is associated with winter depression Typically, these individuals not only feel depressed they also feel tried, slow down, and generally oversleep, overeat, and crave carbohydrates in the winter. In the summer, these same patients feel very good and maybe even are elated, active, and energetic.

Although many variables may be responsible for SAD, insufficient light exposure is the most logical explanation. Many mammals exhibit seasonal variations in activity level, sleep patterns, and appetite and are extremely sensitive to changes in day length. The antidepressant effects of full-spectrum light therapy have been demonstrated in well-monitored, controlled studies in SAD. The antidepressant effect of light therapy is probably due to the restoration of proper melatonin synthesis and secretion by the pineal gland, leading to reestablishment of the proper circadian rhythm. Full-spectrum white light (10,000 lux) is prescribed for at least 30 minutes every day in the morning. Or, better yet, use full-spectrum lighting throughout the indoor environment.

The key hormonal change caused by exposure to full spectrum lighting may be a reduced secretion of melatonin from the pineal gland and an increased secretion of cortisol by the adrenal glands. Melatonin supplementation is thought to improve SAD because it increases brain melatonin levels, but it may also suppress cortisol secretion.Take 3-5 mg 45 minutes before retiring.

Vitamin D is also an important consideration. Many experts recommend a dosage of 2,000 to 5,000 IU of vitamin D3 daily, especially during the winter months.

Mind Your Ps and Qs

PQQ may be the perfect answer to preventing or reversing age-related mental decline.

kiwiPQQ (short for pyrroloquinoline quinone) is a vitamin-like compound found in plant foods that shows a wide range of benefits for brain function and energy production. Learn more about PQQ with the following Q&A.
What Exactly Does PQQ Do?

PQQ is an extremely potent antioxidant that is able to carry out the role of an antioxidant in the body more than 20,000 times—which is a rare thing. For example, other antioxidants, such as vitamin C, are only able to accomplish this “cycling” process about four times.
Are There Any Food Sources of PQQ?

PQQ has been found in all plant foods analyzed to date. Particularly PPQ-rich foods include parsley, green peppers, kiwi, papaya, and tofu. These foods contain 2–3 mcg of PQQ per 100 grams. Green tea provides about the same amount per 4-oz. serving. While these amounts appear to be sufficient in helping our cells carry out their basic functions, research indicates that boosting PQQ through supplementation can produce some amazing effects.